Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned today that the world had reached a "dangerous point" as tensions between Russia and the United States have spiked over the Syria conflict.

As the last leader of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev oversaw an easing of decades of tensions with the West that helped to end the Cold War. (Reuters)

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned today that the world had reached a “dangerous point” as tensions between Russia and the United States have spiked over the Syria conflict.

Relations between Moscow and Washington — already at their lowest since the Cold War over the Ukraine conflict — have soured further in recent days as the United States pulled the plug on Syria talks and accused Russia of hacking attacks.

The Kremlin meanwhile has suspended a series of nuclear pacts, including a symbolic cooperation deal to cut stocks of weapons-grade plutonium.